Antenna radiation pattern reconfiguration using multi-stability

We investigate mechanically reconfigurable antennas as a means of creating flexible emergency communications infrastructure for disaster relief and low-infrastructure areas. Mechanical reconfiguration of conductors allows to create low-cost, energy-efficient, and lightweight solutions that can simultaneously adapt their performance to a changing environment. As such, we are studying reconfigurable helical lattice structures as a means of adapting performance in helical antennas. Our research is focused on several aspects:

• Investigation of the link between helix shape and antenna radiation pattern (where it sends its signal) 
• Integration of multi-stability into helical structures to enable low-energy reconfiguration
• Lightweight smart material actuation
• Manufacturing of novel composite materials that enable the desired multi-stability and are low-cost

Collaborators:

• Dr. J. Costantine (Co-PI), Dr. Y. Tawk, R. Bichara at the American University of Beirut

Related Publications: 

• M. Sakovsky, R. Bichara, Y. Tawk, J. Costantine, Enhancing multi-stability in helical lattice structures, AIAA 2022-0923, AIAA Scitech Forum, San Diego, USA, 2022. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-0923

Funding:

• 2019 Innovation Starting Grant from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation administered by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO)